Cornish heath
Erica vagans
Family: Ericaceae
Fire effect on plant
Cornish heath appears to be able to survive low-severity fire (Obeso and Vera 1996; Coombe and Frost 1956) but is likely top-killed by moderate to severe fire.
Key traits
Cornish heath is able to resprout from above- and below-ground stems after fire (Obeso and Vera 1996). Regrowth can be rapid; shoots can grow 10-15 cm in the same year as being burned.
This species can also persist through seed germination, although seedling recruitment is less important than vegetative regrowth after prescribed fires in Spain (Obeso and Vera 1996)
Seeds show heat stimulated germination (Obeso and Vera 1996), and are wind dispersed.
Plant response to fire
Cornish heath is traditionally managed by prescribed fires in Spain (Obeso and Vera 1996). Low-intensity fires appeared to cause no impact on cornish heath populations in terms of survival, but increased fire severity decreased the number of resprouting plants when compared to control plots (Obeso and Vera 1996). Resprouting from belowground appears most common after wildfires, but aboveground parts can also resprout after prescribed fires/ controlled burns (Obeso and Vera 1996). Coombe and Frost (1956) described Erica vagans as regenerating vigorously from half-buried unburnt stools and is rarely completely killed after controlled burns.
Timing of life history
Perennial species. Seeds produced from third growing season. Flowering July to October.
Conservation status
None.
References
Coombe, D.E., Frost, L.C. 1956. The Heaths of the Cornish Serpentine. Journal of Ecology 44: 226-256. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Obeso, R.J., Vera, M.L. 1996. Resprouting after experimental fire application and seed germination in Erica vagans. Orsis 11: 155-163. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]